Well, that's one way to preserve his foundation and legacy, such as it is. If he doesn't challenge the USADA, then they don't put on their evidence, whatever it may be. Yes, that will leave lots of folks with lots of questions, but he's used to questions. And questions are much easier to deal with than evidence.

No, I think he did what he felt he had to do to keep the evidence from being public record. It's an admission without an admission. It's just weird to spend all those resources for years fighting allegations to just drop the fight when it counts.

I'm a little behind the times here, so excuse my ignorance. I remember watching the TDF and rooting for him, but also believing he had to be doped. Hell, I believe that everyone that wins that thing has to be doped in some form or fashion. After he stopped chasing the win streak, I quit watching, but I remember hearing about a bunch of riders being caught in the subsequent years. My questions are: Did he ever get caught? Are they saying there is a positive test that was just never released (or never got leaked to the press)? Or is the evidence all based on what some guys said (which might be true, but should also be corroborated with some positive test)?

No, I think he did what he felt he had to do to keep the evidence from being public record. It's an admission without an admission. It's just weird to spend all those resources for years fighting allegations to just drop the fight when it counts.

It's not a fair process and, as others have pointed out, that's just tough luck because it's the process that exists. It's designed to deal with scientific questions (a samples, b samples and the like). As shown in this thread, most of us have made our minds up and come to grips with whatever we believe. I think the whole charade is stupid and mean-spirited. Lots of others think it's long overdue. We're past the point where anyone will really change their mind. Que sera. You win.

I'm a little behind the times here, so excuse my ignorance. I remember watching the TDF and rooting for him, but also believing he had to be doped. Hell, I believe that everyone that wins that thing has to be doped in some form or fashion. After he stopped chasing the win streak, I quit watching, but I remember hearing about a bunch of riders being caught in the subsequent years. My questions are: Did he ever get caught? Are they saying there is a positive test that was just never released (or never got leaked to the press)? Or is the evidence all based on what some guys said (which might be true, but should also be corroborated with some positive test)?

Can someone get me up to speed? I don't like to read.

While stepping over the question of whether I think he doped ... my understanding is that the evidence consisted primarily of personal testimony from 10-12 people, at least half admitted dopers (or under strong suspicion). USADA refused to reveal the identities of the full contingent, let alone what they'd actually say in the arbitration proceeding. The physical evidence is limited to a handful of results of old samples re-tested with new protocols; the results don't test for the presence of PEDs per se, but generate a profile that's viewed as normal/abnormal. Armstrong's old samples apparently tested out as "abnormal".

An equal issue is that the arbitration process isn't viewed as being a fair fight for a charged athlete. I've not looked into it deeply, but apparently other sports bodies and even some arbitrators describe it as skewed against the athlete.

Given USADA's "evidence blackout", the slanted venue, and the finality of the arbitration decision ... I can see why an athlete wouldn't be eager to enter a process seemingly so stacked against him.

"I want you to pray as if everything depends on it, but I want you to prepare yourself as if everything depends on you."